restrain in American

SYNONYMY NOTE: restrain, the term of broadest application in this list, suggests the use of strong force
or authority either in preventing, or in suppressing and controlling, some action
[try to restrain your zeal]; curb, check, bridle derive their current implications from the various uses of a horse's harness, , curb implying a sudden, sharp action to bring something under control [to curb one's tongue], check implying a slowing up of action or progress [to check inflationary trends], and bridle suggesting a holding in of emotion, feelings, etc. [to bridle one's envy]; inhibit, as used in psychology, implies a suppressing or repressing of some action, thought,
or emotion [her natural verve had become inhibited]